The government announced an increase in several social security benefits, including the old-age pension, with retroactive effect from January 1, 2025. This measure reflects the new MSAR government’s concern for the well-being of residents. However, many senior citizens continue to mention that their pension has not been updated in five years. Furthermore, due to inflation, the high daily costs of food and medical care make the current pension insufficient to cover basic living needs.
At the same time, there have been calls to improve the pension adjustment mechanism, particularly by studying the appropriate pension level and its link to social risk, so that updates better reflect the real cost of living for the elderly population.
Since December 2023, the caregiver allowance has been open for regular enrollment in Macau. However, eligibility remains limited to four categories, including those caring for people with severe or very severe disabilities, or long-term bedridden individuals, and the amount of the allowance is low. Authorities have not yet given a clear answer regarding the possibility of increasing this amount. Many have expressed hope that the government will expand the scope of eligibility or increase the subsidy depending on families’ economic situation, in order to alleviate the financial burden—especially for those who have to provide full-time care for family members and are therefore unable to work.
Regarding strengthening support for families with caregivers, authorities indicated that they are listening to public opinion and exploring various possibilities for improving services. It is important to emphasize that the role of family caregivers is indispensable in the care system for the elderly and people with disabilities, especially in light of an aging society. However, support resources for caregivers remain fragmented and lack optimization and integration.
It is recommended that the government consider creating a “caregiver support platform” and a service resource map to integrate existing government and community resources, improve access to information, and comprehensively strengthen local care services. This includes providing better access to care knowledge, social resources and support channels, mental health services, and respite care, as well as promoting long-term care insurance, health care savings schemes, and caregiver-friendly employment policies. Measures like these would help build a more targeted and comprehensive caregiver support policy, allowing both older adults and caregivers to enjoy greater rights and social protection.
Macau Federation of Trade Unions
